Santa Ynez' Anthony Gills straight arms Santa Maria's Sammy Benitez during a 35-17 victory on Sept. 6, 2019, in Santa Ynez. Santa Ynez and other county schools could begin preparations for a five-game football season on March 2.
Santa Ynez High School head football coach Josh McClurg leads a lineman's drill during a practice at Santa Ynez High in 2018. McClurg and his Pirates could be back at practice next week, assuming Santa Barbara County's adjusted case rate falls below 14 on March 2.
Lompoc quarterback Cavin Ross throws the ball in the first half of a Division 5 playoff game against Glendora at Citrus College in Glendora on Nov. 8. Ross, a freshman, earned First Team All-Channel League honors last season.
Orcutt Academy's Cooper Wood (17) gets tackled by Frazier Mountain defender Issac Clark (4) during Friday night's game at Pioneer Valley High School in Santa Maria.
The news from the California coronavirus pandemic update was a mixed bag for area athletics last week, though this week's numbers are expected to bring better news.
After the California Department of Public Health revised its return-to-play guidelines on Feb. 19, setting a clear path for football and other outdoor sports to return, Santa Barbara County just missed the mark while San Luis Obispo County did drop below the threshold on Feb. 23.
Santa Barbara was scheduled to meet the mark on Tuesday, March 2.
The CDPH said on Feb. 19 that a county that had an adjusted case rate below 14 per 100,000 residents could begin full practices for high-contact, outdoor sports, namely football, water polo and soccer.
The adjusted case rate number is updated every Tuesday. Santa Barbara County's adjusted case rate was 16.9 on Feb. 23, down from 27 the previous week, but not quite below the 14 threshold.
San Luis Obispo County, meanwhile, did see its number drop below 14 on Feb. 23: SLO County's number came in at 9.4 then.
That means high schools can hold practices for football, water polo and soccer if the athletes and coaches are being tested. Testing is not necessary for teams with more than 50% of the athletes being below the age of 13.Â
If the rate falls below seven, teams do not have to test at all.
Santa Barbara County's adjusted case rate will almost certainly drop below 14 on March 2, meaning area schools can begin to prepare for a football season.Â
SLO County schools could begin conditioning practices last week with helmets, T-shirts and shorts, with those types of practices running through Thursday. Last Friday, schools could've begun full padded practices.Â
By Saturday, March 6, SLO County schools could hold a scrimmage against other SLO County schools.
The season could, theoretically, begin on Thursday, March 11 for SLO County schools. Athletic directors from Central Coast Athletic Association schools met last week to iron out details on how and when schools will be starting their football seasons.Â
The CCAA is made up of the 13 schools that moved together from the CIF Southern Section to the CIF Central Section two years ago: Paso Robles, Templeton, Atascadero, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Mission Prep, Nipomo, Arroyo Grande, Santa Maria, St. Joseph, Pioneer Valley, Orcutt Academy and Righetti.
The schools will work on logistics and schedules at Thursday's meeting.
The decision-making process now falls to local schools and districts. Some may choose to go full-speed ahead with a football season. Others could, possibly, choose to opt out.
Mission Prep in San Luis Obispo, said that it is going ahead with a football season and the program was passing out helmets this week.Â
Santa Barbara County will likely pass the adjusted case rate threshold on March 2. Practices with helmets and shorts could run for three days and padded practices can begin March 5. Schools could then hold scrimmages on Saturday, March 13 and start their seasons on March 18-20 and have a five-game season that ends on April 15-17.
SLO County schools could have a six-game season if they start on March 11-13.Â
This is if those schools are adhering to a COVID-19 testing program. Testing is only required for close contact sports like football and water polo.Â
The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District, for instance, already seems to have a testing plan in place, for its entire athletic program.Â
In an email sent to parents on Monday, superintendent Scott Cory said his district has been in contact with Santa Barbara County Public Health about testing student-athletes.
Cory said, "We will conduct this weekly testing for all athletes and coaches as a prerequisite for participation in both practices and contests."
Cory said that, after a conversation with SBCPH, the school will "proactively begin testing next week for coaches and athletes in anticipation of our county achieving the case rate of 14 or less by the week of March 1."
Cory said the county's public health office has "offered to provide the weekly rapid testing kits for free for our athletes and coaches."
That move, Cory added, is a "significant contribution" to the school's athletic programs that feature 435 athletes and 72 coaches.Â
Cory did note that there are still "many logistical details to put in place in a very short period of time."
Santa Barbara County schools have begun their seasons in other sports, like cross country, golf and tennis. Area teams have also begun softball and baseball practices.Â
Restrictions on indoor sports, like basketball and volleyball, have not been loosened by the state.
022021 Sandy Pua Memorial 01.JPG
Keyshawn Pu'a and Lui Pu'a act as pallbearers for Sandy Pu'a, Keyshawn's father and Lui's brother, at a memorial service held on the football field at Allan Hancock College, where Sandy Pu'a played and coached. Pu'a died Feb. 5 at the age of 42. Hundreds turned out to honor the longtime Central Coast resident Saturday morning.
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The family of Sandy Pu'a laughs at a story told by Sandy's brother, Lui, at Saturday's memorial service for Sandy Pu'a, the longtime Hancock College coach and former player. Pictured are Sandy's children Keyshawn, Elyaz, Ely-Jah and Key-annah, along with wife Candy.
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Keyshawn, Ely-Jah and Elyaz Pu'a act as pallbearers for their father Sandy Pu'a at a memorial service held on the football field at Allan Hancock College, where Sandy Pu'a played and coached. Pu'a died Feb. 5 at the age of 42. Hundreds turned out to honor the longtime Central Coast resident.
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Keyshawn, Ely-Jah and Elyaz Pu'a act as pallbearers for their father Sandy Pu'a at a memorial service held on the football field at Allan Hancock College, where Sandy Pu'a played and coached. Pu'a died Feb. 5 at the age of 42. Hundreds turned out to honor the longtime Central Coast resident.
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Hundreds gathered outdoors to honor Sandy Pu'a Saturday at Hancock College. Pu'a died unexpectedly Feb. 5. He was 42.
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Mourners wear T-shirts honoring the late Sandy Pu'a, a Hancock College football coach and UPS employee who died unexpectedly Feb. 5 at the age of 42.Â
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Hundreds gathered to honor Sandy Pu'a on Saturday. Pu'a was a longtime Hancock College football coach and UPS employee.Â
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Dozens of UPS colleagues gathered to honor the late Sandy Pu'a, a former UPS employee and Hancock College football coach who died unexpectedly on Feb. 5.
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The life of Sandy Pu'a was honored with a traditional Samoan dance during Saturday's memorial service at Hancock College.
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Former classmates of Sandy Pu'a from American Samoa share stories honoring the memory of the former Hancock College coach and father who died suddenly on Feb. 5 at 42 years of age.
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The family of Sandy Pu'a laughs at a story told by Sandy's brother, Lui, at Saturday's memorial service for Sandy Pu'a, the longtime Hancock College coach and former player. Pictured are Sandy's children Keyshawn, Elyaz, Ely-Jah and Key-annah, along with wife Candy.
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Sandy Pu'a, a native of American Samoa and former Hancock College player and coach, was honored with a memorial service at the Hancock College football field on Saturday.
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Keyshawn, Ely-Jah and Elyaz Pu'a act as pallbearers for their father Sandy Pu'a at a memorial service held on the football field at Allan Hancock College, where Sandy Pu'a played and coached. Pu'a died Feb. 5 at the age of 42. Hundreds turned out to honor the longtime Central Coast resident.
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Hundreds gathered at the Hancock College football field Saturday to honor the life of Sandy Pu'a, a former Hancock player and coach who died unexpectedly on Feb. 5 at the age of 42.
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Keyshawn, Ely-Jah and Elyaz Pu'a act as pallbearers for their father Sandy Pu'a at a memorial service held on the football field at Allan Hancock College, where Sandy Pu'a played and coached. Pu'a died Feb. 5 at the age of 42. Hundreds turned out to honor the longtime Central Coast resident. Also pictured is Lui Pu'a, Sandy's younger brother.Â
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The family of Sandy Pu'a laughs at a story told by Sandy's brother, Lui, at Saturday's memorial service for Sandy Pu'a, the longtime Hancock College coach and former player. Pictured are Sandy's children Keyshawn, Elyaz, Ely-Jah and Key-annah, along with wife Candy.
022021 Sandy Pua Memorial 18.JPG
Keyshawn Pu'a and Lui Pu'a act as pallbearers for Sandy Pu'a, Keyshawn's father and Lui's brother, at a memorial service held on the football field at Allan Hancock College, where Sandy Pu'a played and coached. Pu'a died Feb. 5 at the age of 42. Hundreds turned out to honor the longtime Central Coast resident.
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A dozen UPS delivery trucks were parked outside the Hancock College football field to honor Sandy Pu'a, who worked at UPS for 14 years. Pu'a, also a football coach at Hancock College, died unexpectedly on Feb. 5.
Photos: Lompoc faces Glendora in first round playoff matchup
Lompoc's Oscar Tenorio runs the ball in the first half of a Division 5 playoff game Friday against Glendora at Citrus College in Glendora.
All-Channel League: Santa Barbara's Deacon Hill named league's Offensive MVP
Lompoc quarterback Cavin Ross throws the ball in the first half of a Division 5 playoff game against Glendora at Citrus College in Glendora on Nov. 8. Ross, a freshman, earned First Team All-Channel League honors last season.
Sheldon Canley Jr. 1
Sheldon Canley of Lompoc runs for a first down in the first half of a Division 5 playoff football game against Glendora at Citrus College on Nov. 8, 2019. Canley earned First Team All-Channel League honors as a sophomore and has since picked up three Mountain West offers from Colorado State, Nevada and San Jose State, where his father played in the 1990s.
Photos: Lompoc faces Glendora in first round playoff matchup
The Lompoc sidelines look on in the first half of a Division 5 prep playoff football game against Glendora at Citrus College on Friday, November 8, 2019 in Glendora, California. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham)
Photos: Lompoc faces Glendora in first round playoff matchup
Elijah Gonzales #88 of Lompoc, left, looks on in the first half of a Division 5 prep playoff football game against Glendora at Citrus College on Friday, November 8, 2019 in Glendora, California. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham)
Photos: Lompoc faces Glendora in first round playoff matchup
Lompoc defense stops the run by Braydon Brus #3 of Glendora in the first half of a Division 5 prep playoff football game at Citrus College on Friday, November 8, 2019 in Glendora, California. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham)
Photos: Lompoc faces Glendora in first round playoff matchup
Elijah Gonzales #88 of Lompoc looks on as Glendora scores in the first half of a Division 5 prep playoff football game at Citrus College on Friday, November 8, 2019 in Glendora, California. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham)
Photos: Lompoc faces Glendora in first round playoff matchup
Luis Aguiniga #16 of Lompoc reacts after a play in the first half of a Division 5 prep playoff football game against Glendora at Citrus College on Friday, November 8, 2019 in Glendora, California. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham)
Photos: Lompoc faces Glendora in first round playoff matchup
Starting quarterback Cavin Ross #17 of Lompocin passes the ball the first half of a Division 5 prep playoff football game against Glendora at Citrus College on Friday, November 8, 2019 in Glendora, California. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham)
Sheldon Canley Jr. 3
Sheldon Canley of Lompoc runs for a first down in the first half of a Division 5 prep playoff football game against Glendora at Citrus College on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019 in Glendora.
Photos: Lompoc faces Glendora in first round playoff matchup
Quarterback Cavin Ross #17 hands off the ball to Oscar Tenorio #8 of Lompoc in the first half of a Division 5 prep playoff football game against Glendora at Citrus College on Friday, November 8, 2019 in Glendora, California. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham)
Photos: Lompoc faces Glendora in first round playoff matchup
Lompoc's Adam Lazaro scores in the first quarter of a Division 5 playoff football game against Glendora at Citrus College on Friday in Glendora.
Photos: Round Table Athletes of the Year
Adam Lazaro of Lompoc celebrates with teammate Ryan Morgan #5 after scoring a touchdown in the first half of a Division 5 prep playoff football game against Glendora at Citrus College on Friday, November 8, 2019 in Glendora, California. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham)
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